Coral Gold Cup winner
will not run before the Randox
weights are revealed on February 11.
Trainer Paul Nicholls will keep his powder dry with the grey, who has seen his Newbury form franked on several occasions since and raised his rating to 152.
Having finished third in the Topham Chase last season, Nicholls is convinced he has all the attributes to go close back over the big fences in April.
“He’s in great shape actually. I’m not going to run, definitely, before the
weights come out and risk getting any more,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“He keeps going up without running because everything behind him in the Coral Gold Cup is running well.
“He’s 152 now and I want to keep him on that mark for the National – whether we give him another run or not beforehand…he doesn’t have to because he is brilliant fresh and has been round Aintree.
“If we think he needs a run, I might look at that two-and-a-half-mile race at Newbury in early March (Greatwood Gold Cup, March 1). We may find something, but it is not essential.
“He’s in good shape and we can’t wait to go to Aintree.”
Nicholls will also have two other Grand National possibles.
He added: “Bravemansgame will definitely have an entry and if he had a run before it could be the Denman Chase and then on to Aintree. Threeunderthrufive will also have a National entry.”